Appliance for cutting holes in tins and forming grooves around the openings



O. J. MALONE APPLIANCE FOR CUTTING HOLES IN TINS AND FORMING GROOVES AROUND THE OPENINGS Filed Oct. 1, 1950 April 26, 1932,

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A il 26, 1932.

o. J. MALONE 1,855,973 APPLIANCE FOR CUTTING HOLES IN TINS AND FORMING GROOVES AROUND THE OPENINGS Filed Oct. 1, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPLIANCE FOR CUTTING HOLES IN TINS AND FORMING GROOVES AROUND THE OPENINGS Application filed October 1,' 1930, Serial No.

' This invention relates to an improved hand appliance for cutting a circular hole in a tin or container, and for also forming a groove or channel around the edge of the opening so formed. a

The appliance is usable with tins or receptacles containing kerosene, motor spirit or lubricating oils, but one of its principal uses is for tins or containers used in the fruit preserving industry for the storage of pulped fruit or vegetables. In opening fruit pulp tins, difficulty is frequently experienced in forming a clean satisfactory hole for the emptying of the contents, and oftentimes the piece of metal removed from the top of the tin in the making of the hole falls into the contents of the tin, thus causing inconvenience.

Moreover, the pulp tins are generally used several times and, unless the hole'in the tin is clean cut and free from jagged edges, difficulties arise in closing the hole in such a manner as will obviate crevices and other spaces wherein dirt can collect. The present method of repairing tins for re-use is to trim the hole previously made and solder a cover piece thereover. In this operation special care is required during the soldering of the cover piece in order to ensure an air-tight closure. a a

By the use of an appliance according to the present invention, these disadvantages are overcome. The tins or containers can be conveniently opened and thehole that is formed is clean cut and ,of such'character as will facilitate the pouring of the contents.

When the hole is being closed to enable the tin to here-used, the groove around the i hole assists in the effective soldering of the cover piecein correct position and also ensures an air-tight closure which is free from crevices or spaces for the collection of dirt on the interior of the tin. v

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the improved appliance.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the positions of the parts when the ap pliance is being forced through the tin to form the hole. 7

485,755, and in Australia October 11, 1929.

Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2, but showing the positions of the parts when the groove is being formed around the edge of the pierced hole.

Figure 1 is a cross-section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

As illustrated in these views, the improved appliance comprises a metal body member 1 of tubular construction provided at its opposite ends with rigidly fitted circular blocks 2 and 3. The upper block 2 supports a fixed handle 4 consisting of two oppositely arranged parts which are screwed into the block through holes in the body member. The lower block 3 supports a detachable steel cutter 5 constructed with two piercing points 6 and inclined cutting edges 7.

Fitted centrally to the lower block 3 is a piercing member 8 of pointed construction the lower end of which extends downwardly within the cutter 5. Said memberis adapted to initially pierce the tin and to hold the disc of metal which is removed from the tin by the action of the cutter 5.

Beneath the fixed handle 4 is a movable handle 9 slidable within two slots 10 formed in the walls of the tubular body 1. The 'movable handle is made in two parts which are rigidly secured to an internal block 11 and arranged oppositely so as to coincide in position with the parts of the fixed handle 4. The internal block is slidable within the tubular body 1 and is rigidly connected to a central vertical rod 12 which has its opposite ends extending upwardly and downwardly from the said bloc The upper end of the rod 12 is slidable in a hole 13 in the upper block 2, and a coiled spring 14 is fitted around it between the blocks 2 and 11. The lower end of the rod 12 is connected to an equalizing bar 15. This bar is, inturn, connected by rods 16 to two arms 17 housed within the tubular body and pivoted at their inner ends on a transverse pivot pin 18. Preferably, the arms 17 are knuckle-pivotedon the pin 18, as shown in Figure 4, one arm 17 having a bifurcated end to receive the end of the other arm.

The outer ends of the arms 17 carry grooved rollers 19 which are adapted to be extended beyond the exterior surface of the tubular body 1 through slots 20 therein when the movable handle 9 is drawn upwardly. Said rollers co-act with complementary or male rollers 21 fitted on the exterior surface of the tubular body. Two male rollers 21 may be used, but preferably four are provided as shown in the drawings, two being positioned above the slots 20 to co-act with the rollers 19 and the other two being arrangedat points midway between them.

An'ejector plate 22 is fitted slidably about the piercing member 8 and is connected to knobs 23 at the upper end of the appliance by slide rods 24 passed through holes in the blocks 2 and 3. Pressure applied on the knobs 23, after the appliance has been removed from the tin, causes the plate 22 to be depressed to thus eject the disc of metal held on the piercing member 8. Coiled springs 25 fitted around the upper ends of the sliderods 24: function to return the ejector plate to normal position following the dislodgment of the disc of metal.

In use, the appliance is grasped by the upper fixed handle 4 and forced downwardly against the tin or like container to cause the cutter 5 to pierce the top of the tin and form the opening therein. After the tin has been pierced, the tubular body 1 of the appliance is forced downwardly through the opening until the top rollers 21 carried on said body come into contact with the upper surface of the tin, see Figure 2. The lower movable handle 9 is then drawn upwardly causing the pivoted arms 17 housed within the body member to be pivot-ally swung outwardly. The grooved rollers 19 are thus extended through the slots 20 in the tubular body and contact with the underside of the tin at points adjacent to the opening that has been out there in. The appliance it now rotated by means of its two handles, causing the two sets of rollers 19 and 21 to co-act and thus form the groove orchannel 26 around the opening in the tin, see Figure 3.

After the groove has been formed in the manner described, the lower handle 9 is released, whereupon the coiled spring 14 forces said handle downwardly and causes the lower grooved rollers 19 to be withdrawn into the tubular body through the slots 20 therein. The lower portion of the body is thus freed from projections and the appliance can be conveniently withdrawn from the opening in the tin. The ejector plate 22 is then actuated by its knobs 23 to "cause the piece of metal cut from the opening to be dislodged from the piercing member 8, see broken lines in Figure 3.

By arranging the movable handle 9 immediately beneath the fixed handle 4, both of said handles can be grasped simultaneously and said movable handle can be readily actuated. merely by the application of pressure thereto and without alteration of the grip of the hands.

The hole formed in the tin by the use of the appliance is particularly clean cut and enables the contents of the tin to be conveniently emptied. The groove or channel 26 formed around the opening functions to strengthen the edge of the opening and also facilitates pouring. Furthermore, when the tin is being-repaired for re-use the groove 26 forms a seating for the metal cover piece and also acts as a gutter for solder, thus con siderably facilitating the soldering operations. l

What I do claim is:

1. An improved cutting appliance'for the purpose described comprising a body member, a cutter at the lower end of said body member to pierce the tin or container, rollers accommodated within the body member and adapted, when the appliance has been forced into the tin, to be extended to engage the underside of the tin, complementary rollers on the outer surface of the body member to co-act with the extensible rollers in forming a groove-around the opening that has been formed, and a central piercing'member within the cutter to hold the piece of-metal cut from the tin or container.

2. An improved cutting appliance for the purpose described comprising a tubular body, a cutter at the lower end of said body to pierce the tin or container, arms pivoted within the tubular body, rollers mounted on said arms and "extensible through slots in the walls of the tubular body,co1nplementary rollers on the outer surface of the body to co-act with said extensible rollers, a fixed handle at the upper end of the tubular body, a movable handle slidable in slots in the tubular body, and connections between said movable handle and the pivoted armscarrying the extensible rollers. p

3. An appliance according to 'claim'2 and wherein the connections between the movable handle and pivoted-arms consist ofa rod connected to an equalizing bar and rods connecting said bar to the pivotedarms.

4. An appliance according to claim 2 and wherein the arms carrying the extensible rollers are knuckle-pivoted on a transverse pm.

5. An appliance according to claim2 and wherein the movablehandle is positioned beneath the fixed handle and spring means are associated with said movable handle for withdrawing the extensible rollers into the tubular body when said handle is released.

6. In an appliance of the character described, a hollow body member,grooved rollers accommodated within saidhollow body member and extensible through slots therein, and complementary rollers on the exterior of the bodyqnember adapted to co-act with said extensible rollers.

7. In an appliance of thecharacter described, a hollow body member, arms pivoted within said body member, grooved rollers carried by said arms, a handle for actuating said arms to cause the grooved rollers to be extended through slots in the wall of the body member, and complementary rollers on the exterior of the body member adapted to co-act with said extensible rollers.

8. A cutting appliance for the purpose described, comprising a hollow body member having slots in the walls thereof, a fixed cutter at the lower edge of the hollow body member to pierce the material, arms pivoted within the hollow body member, rollers mounted on the free ends of the pivoted arms and adapted when the body member is forced into the material, to be extended through the slots formed in the body member to en gage the underside of the material, compleed on a common pivot supported on the body member, rollers 011 the free ends of the arms, manual means for tilting the arms to extend the latter through the slots formed in the body member, automatic means for retracting the arms, rollers on the outside of the body member mounted on pivots fixed with relation to the pivot supporting the arms, said outside rollers serving to limit the down- Ward movement of the body member when the appliance is in use and cooperating with the rollers on the arms to form a crimp in the material, and means for ejecting the piece of material from the hollow body, cut by the cutters.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

OSWALD JOSEPH MALONE.

mentary rollers on the outer surface of the A body member to coact with the rollers on the arms in forming a groove around the opening that has been formed, a handle mounted on the hollow body member, and a connection between the handle and arms to extend the rollers through the slots in the hollow body member.

9. A cutting appliance for the purpose specified comprising a hollow body member formed with a cutter at its lower end and having oppositely disposed slots, arms extending in opposite directions and mounted on a common pivot, rollers mounted on the free ends of the arms, means for rocking the arms on their common pivot to project therein through the slots in the body member, and a series of complementary rollers 011 the outside of the body member mounted on pivots fixed on the body member with relation to the pivot supporting arms.

10. A cutting appliance for the purpose specified comprising a hollow body member formed with a cutter at its lower end and 1 having oppositely disposed slots,arms extending in opposite directions and mounted on a common pivot, rollers mounted on the free ends of the arms, means for rocking the arms on their common pivot to project therein through the slots in the body member, a series of complementary rollers on the outside of the body member mounted on pivots fixed on the body member with relation to the pivot supporting arms, a piercing member within the hollow body member, an ejector plate within the hollow body member to dislodge the piece of metal from the piercing member, and means on the hollow body member for operating the ejector plate.

11. A cutting appliance for the purpose described comprising a hollow cylindrical body member having slots in the walls thereof and formed at its lower end with oppositely disposed piercing points and inclined cutting edges, oppositely disposed arms mount- 

